Pauch Sr. goes from 2nd to 1st
Pauch Sr. goes from 2nd to 1st, bests Buckwalter at Action Track
KUTZTOWN >> Billy Pauch Sr. finished runner-up to a Buckwalter on opening night, but the Frenchtown, N.J. throttle-jockey turned the tables on another member of the same family on May 18. Pauch worked hard to defeat Steve Buckwalter on Wednesday, repelling several late race attacks and hanging on to win his first USAC All Pro Speed-STR main event since June of 2015 at the JeffreyHogueRealtor.com Action Track USA on the Kutztown Fairgrounds.
Billy Pauch Jr. did not have the same luck as his dad, but Junior put on quite a show as he traded slide jobs and battled ferociously for the lead before finishing second for the second week in a row; this time to Eddie Strada of Lake Ariel in the King of No Wing Shootout for the Hyper Racing 600 Sprints Powered by Hyper Fuel Injection Technology. Because he took the Gambler’s Challenge when he signed in on Wednesday, Strada picked up $1,000 for his victory.
Former National Slingshot Champion Dylan Hoch of nearby Mertztown survived a series of challenges from Travis Bieber to win the NAPA Auto Parts All Star Slingshot 20-lapper by a narrow margin.
Action Track USA opens its gates again this Wednesday, May 25, as it hosts KME First Responder Night. All First Responders (showing a valid I.D.) will be admitted free this week, and there will be a large fire truck on display with live demonstrations taking place all night long. In addition, the Keystone Blood Mobile will be on the grounds so racers and fans can “do what’s right and donate a pint” to local healthcare facilities that so desperately need to replenish their blood supplies. As for racing, KME First Responder Night will feature the USAC All Pro Speed-STRs, the Hyper Racing 600 Sprints Powered by Hyper Fuel Injection Technology, and the NAPA Auto Parts All Star Slingshots, as well as the first appearance of the year by the Junior Slingshots.
A total of 118 race cars took part in Wednesday’s program, with 31 Speed-STRs, 51 of the 600 Sprints, and 36 Slingshots entering the competition. USAC All Pro Speed-STR Feature, 30 laps: 1.Billy Pauch., 2.Steve Buckwalter, 3.Tim Buckwalter, 4.James Morris, 5.Mike Bednar, 6.Steven Nederostek, 7.Andy Haus, 8.Jeff Hartman, 9.Tim Iulg, 10.Steve Drevicki, 11.Matt Janisch, 12.John Bockhorn, 13.Briggs Danner, 14.Frank Yankowski, 15.Eric Ankiewicz, 16.Damon Paul, 17.Phil Meisner, 18.Jay Hartman, 19.Kenny Brightbill, 20.Mike Mahaney, 21.Joe Mooney, 22.Brad Brightbill, 23.Billy Pauch Jr., 24.TJ Mayberry, 25.Louden Reimert, 26.Tom Mayberry, 27.Joe Vaccaro, 28.Chuck Bowers. DNS: Earl Paules. DNQ: Jason Miller, Doug Manmiller. Hyper Racing 600 Sprints “King of No Wing” Feature, 40 laps: 1.Eddie Strada, 2.Billy Pauch Jr., 3.Tommy Kunsman Jr., 4.Brandon Azzalina, 5.Jay Hartman, 6.Rob Pajauis, 7.Kyle Lick, 8.Jacob Severn, 9.Jesse Maurer, 10.Jarid Kunkle, 11.Josh Heckman, 12.Danny Buccafusca, 13.Austin Quick, 14.Joe Kay, 15.Greg Stevens, 16.Steve Bull, 17.Chris Stockham, 18.Jason Swavely, 19.Alex Bright, 20.Will Butler, 21.Shelby Harper, 22.Nate Brinker, 23.Colin White, 24.Doug Snyder, 25.Eric Heydenreich, 26.Tim Buckwalter, 27.Robbie Hocker, 28.Bobby Butler, 29.Molly Chambers. DNQ: Wayne Scott, JT Brotosky, Wayne Scott Jr., Tim Bauer, Dan Schmaker, Joel Smith, Aaron Bowes, James Morris, Mike Meyers, Nate Schumaker, Cale Mutter, Brandon Heist, Ryan Quackenbush, Brooklyn Gable, Joe Plunkett, Shane Linderman, Sam Kravitsky, Tyler Brehm, Dylan Licklider, Don Colaluce, John Vreeland, Dave Dimaio.
LINCOLN SPEEDWAY >> On May 19, seven-time World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz managed to do something that only one other series driver has been able to do since 1997: outmuscle the Pennsylvania Posse on their home turf and claim the Gettysburg Clash at Lincoln Speedway. Schatz bested a field of 42 Sprinters including a fast closing Danny Dietrich and Brent Marks in the 35 lap feature.
BEDFORD SPEEDWAY >> Andy Haus, of Hamburg, who had the Late Model field wired last week before motor issues arose, managed to seal the deal this time with a dominating Late Model win in Bedford action Friday night. It was Haus’ 4th career win at the track as he chases his famous father’s class leading total. Evan Taylor scored one for the home team as the Mid Atlantic Modifieds invaded the track with 29 on hand. Jesse Snyder scored a rousing last lap win in Semi Late action before Kyle Weyandt (Pure Stock) and Wayne Brenize (4 Cylinder) capped the eventful evening with wins.
BIG DIAMOND RACEWAY >> It was 30 years in the making but Ray Woodall Sr., would have been happy with just his heat race win on Friday night. Instead, the veteran modified campaigner who began his career at the famed Flemington Fair Speedway in the sportsman division in 1983, held off challenges from Doug Hendricks and then Tim Fitzpatrick to score his first-ever win in the 20-lap U.S.S. Achey sportsman feature on Friday night at Big Diamond Speedway. Other winners on Friday night were Brett Arndt (ARDC Midgets); Kody Sites (roadrunners); and Eric Tripp (street stocks).
WILLIAMS GROVE SPEEDWAY >> Lance Dewease blasted by Greg Hodnett in turn three for the lead and then dominated the remaining 16 laps to win the Craftsman World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series feature Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway. Dewease, of Fayetteville, earned $8,000 for his second straight Grove win driving for Donnie Kreitz. It was his 83rd career Grove win. He was running third on lap seven behind Daryn Pittman and leader Greg Hodnett. He blasted under Pittman entering turn three to take second. He made the same impressive move the next time around to take the lead from Hodnett. I had to move up and that’s how I caught them, said Dewease. I actually wasn’t bad in the middle. I knew sooner or later it was going to rubber-up around the bottom, so I went back down and felt pretty good there. Greg was kind of just sitting there. When you’re leading, it’s so hard to move around, and the guy in second has all the advantage in the world. Greg was good all night and we just happened to get to him before it rubbered-up.Hodnett started on the pole and took the lead from Joey Saldana on the opening lap of the 25-lap main event. Dewease started third, but fell to fourth behind Pittman on the opening lap.Pittman and Saldana raced hard for second with Pittman gaining the spot. Dewease passed Saldana on the frontstretch to take third with four laps completed. Dewease was searching the track surface for speed and found some. He drove hard under Pittman into turn three and took the runner-up spot as lap eight was completed. He had Hodnett in his sights now and made the identical move the next lap to take the lead. He caught lapped traffic with 13 laps completed, but the yellow flag flew for Tim Shaffer. Dewease picked the bottom for the double-file restart and drove away from Hodnett on the restart. In only two laps, his lead was nearly three seconds.The bottom lane became the preferred line over the final laps and Dewease was stuck behind slower cars allowing Hodnett to close. Hodnett tried the outside lane in turn one on the final lap, but couldn’t make up any more ground. Dewease scored the win by 0.843 seconds over Hodnett. “At the end, I was struggling a little bit,” said Dewease. “I didn’t know if Greg could do anything outside the rubber. I made sure I didn’t get on anybody’s rear bumper.“He really hauled that thing in there,” said Kreitz of Dewease’s third turn passes. “He didn’t hesitate and I couldn’t believe how hard he hauled it in and got both those guys. They were both great moves Defend- ing and seven-time Outlaws champion Donny Schatz would finish third ahead of Pittman and Danny Dietrich. Saldana, Doug Esh, Shane Stewart, Ryan Smith and T.J. Stutts rounded out the top 10. Saldana set overall quick time with a lap of 17.186 seconds. He was in the first flight of cars. Hodnett had quick time in the second flight of cars with a lap of 17.524 seconds. Eight-lap heat races for the 39-car field were won by Saldana, Dewease, Hodnett and Pittman. Hodnett won the dash and Outlaws point leader Brad Sweet won the Last Chance Showdown.
ANOTHER RAINY WEEKEND >> Lincoln and Port Royal were dark this past Saturday due to the outlaws running at Williams Grove however because of rain, Williams Grove was cancelled. Also rained out were Grandview, Susquehanna, Selingsgrove and New Egypt. Ken Johnson, Rich Kepner and Barry Angstadt contributed to this report